Oh....my aching back!!!

[RandallFlagg]

Well, I guess I'll be the first to break this old forum out!!

I recently (2 days ago) FINALLY decided that I am no rock star!! I was carting around nearly 400 lbs of equipment and quite frankly got sick and tired of it!

So, I traded off my Ampeg SVT5Pro for a new SVT3Pro and my Ampeg 8X10PR Cabinet (215lbs) for a new Ampeg SVT6X10HLF (125 lbs).

Now with my rack and "generally" 2 basses that I carry along - and the 6X10, I have dercreased both the weight AND the bulk of my woes! Oh Happy Day!!

Now, one might logically ask the question: "Well, what does it do to "the sound"?? NOTHING!! Absolutely NOTHING!! Actually, the sound is BETTER!! If you can believe that!! I was stunned to hear the difference in the two cabs - the amps are virtually identical with the exception of the SVT5Pro allowing multiple cabs. I have pretty much limited myself to one cabinet (which is a good thing!) because the SVT6X10HLF is a 4 ohm cab.....

All in all a great day (last night) loading and unloading the truck!!! My Back Thanks Me!!!!


RF

[Tarkus]

i've actually had a couple of offers to join prog bands in this area - but the issue of transporting all of my gear always dissuades me, given my 50+ year old body. and while the thrill of playing live is hard to duplicate, it's probably a big reason i enjoy this cyber collaboration so much... because i DON'T have to shlep all of my gear from place-to-place for rehearsals then playing.

:cool:

[MarkE]

Guys...agreed...
And remember...after playing all night, possibly semi-drunk at 2 or 3am you have to load it all up, possibly go out for donuts with the crew, drive home and unload the entire shootin match before turning in at 5:30 in the monrning.

i can tell ya...I know that I am to old for that shit. :(

[SilverHamer]

I will give a resounding "AMEN" to that. Randall, I admire you for sticking with it man.

I'm a member of the Hamer Fan Club forum...I am not very active on it, but a member just the same. There are scores of working musicians on that forum from whom I've learned a great deal about Hamer guitars. However, there was someone on the forum who started a thread wherein they were championing the subject of Gun Control. That touched off such an incredibly "heated" debate that I felt really bad for the person who started the thread because, in their mind, they had a good reason for the strong feelings they had about controlling personal fire arms. Having said that, in those 5 or 6 pages of that particular thread I was astounded to learn that there is an unbelievable number of working musicians out there who are packing heat...many of them are in possession of Concealed Handgun Permits.

The reason? The most common reason given is..."You wouldn't believe the number of times my band has been robbed while packing our gear in the van out behind the club at 2am by hoodlums who'd been at the gig. If there was no cash, they take some choice pieces of our equipment." I suppose as a working musician, depending upon your level of popularity and demand, you will find yourself playing in some pretty seedy surroundings from time to time.

Nope...it's much easier just to go home and turn on the power switch and punch the record button. LOL.

[MarkE]

What is this world coming too??? Jeeezzz :eek:

[RandallFlagg]

Yeah, I agree with every response here. It's a royal pain in the butt! But I really love playing before "people".....always have. I dunno, I guess that it's the rush that you get.....or some other such nonsense!!

Actually, to be blunt about it, I love every aspect of music. I have since I got first bitten by the bug (way back then). I love setting up, practicing, playing, the whole nine yards. Maybe I'm nutty in the head....

But one thing is most definitely for sure....I'm not as young as I used to be. I see these kids hauling around bass amps and cabs that are bigger than my refrigerator and I can't help but think that, at one time, that was me....*sigh*

[babayaga]

Only joking, of course, but when we went to do the Florida theme parks a few years back (...Dave, I didn't know you then, or I would have called in!! :-)), I was amazed to walk into a big Wal-mart and see the gun counter next to where you buy the cigarrettes!

Bloody hell... in ASDA over here (now owned by Wal-Mart) the equivalent counter would be the one where the greeting cards are kept!

The worst moment I can recall was when a drunk started swearing at me at a pub on Scottie Road (do a Google search mentioning Liverpool, and you'll get the drift...), and lunged at me when I mouthed to him to 'f-off'. He didn't quite make it as our lead guitarist Tony swung the headstock of his Les Paul in front of the guy and his face connected with all six machine heads at once! I just remember him being picked up from amidst all the tables, broken glasses, and swearing regulars, and being thrown out by the bouncers.

I think we were playing 'Cherry Red' at the time...we used to do 'Born to be Wild' as well...maybe that would have been more appropriate?

I played a few gigs live with 'Q' a couple of years back, and really my feeling was... done it, worn the t-shirt etc. My buzz these days comes from the production side of things, experimenting and creating the sounds which come from the studio. It's the 'I flaming well did that!' syndrome when a marvellous piece of music leaves the studio monitors.....

Goosebump city.....!!

[Tarkus]

well, at the risk of scareing (terrifying?) our good friend across the pond - i've had a concealed / carry permit for many years... first in georgia, now here in florida. it's interesting... the rules vary drastically by state (e.g. in georgia, a handgun had to be in full view and never concealed, whereas it's the reverse here in florida). but i do have handguns (38 snubbies) in the glovebox of each car (yes, it's legal to do so) and also have two semi-automatic (9mm) in the house - as well as a 357 for my fanny pack and a 12G shotgun thrown-in for good measure. i should probably go to a range more often than i do for proficiency - but my going 2x-3x a year, from what i understand, is more than your average policeman practices.

btw, before everyone thinks me a complete gun nut, more than half of my handguns were inheritances from my dad (my brother and i split his small collection about 50/50). that said, i do acknowledge that it's a definite remnant from our "wild west" days - and differs greatly from how much of the world thinks of personalized defense.

[MarkE]

I guess you have to add me too

12 ga shotgun pistol grip next to my bed
Armalite AR15 semi (.308), laser site w/bipod in my living room closet
assorted rifles..

Winchester Coyote
Marlin 30-30 lever
Browning Medallion bolt 30-06
Steyer ProHunter bolt .243
Browning BL22 .22 lever w/holosite
Mossberg 500 410 shotgun

and the pride of my collection, a scratch built (around a ruger receiver) .22 match rifle with carbon barrel,match trigger and Leupold scope.

Add to that several Navy sharp shooting ribbons. I was never really good with a pistol but I have several.

Am I a gun nut?? ...no, not really. Just home defense and play toys. I dont even hunt as I dont believe in killing animals.

I had a carry permit when I lived in Alabama. In Alabama it had to be concealed.

[SilverHamer]

I don't know if it is required to be concealed in Texas, but I would gather by the name of the permit (Concealed Handgun Permit) that it probably does. My cousin has a permit and he packs everywhere he goes that is legal for him to pack...and his small semi-automatic is located INSIDE his waistband in a special little holster. Seems like a lot of trouble to me, and doesn't look very comfortable. I don't have a permit, but my cousin has been leaning on me to get one. I'm pretty much content just to be an ordinary sort of person who just happens to own a few firearms so I'm not packing. However, I would if I felt it was necessary.

Ruger P89 9mm (almost exactly like the Baretta I had in the Army)
25 Semiautomatic purse pistol (Tessie's)
12 Gauge Pump
And an Ithica 22 bolt-action rifle

I grew up with guns, and did a fair amount of small game hunting when I was a kid. After a career in the military, and having been forced to fire shots in anger or be shot myself, I am not very enthusiastic about shooting anything that isn't trying to kill me, eat me, or rob me. I am surrounded by Coon-asses (Cajuns) and Rednecks (Texans) in my job who believe that the 4 seasons in the year are Hunting, Fishing, Football, and Christmas (when they will probably get more gear for seasons 1 & 2). Offshore, the most-watched TV channel is the Outdoor Channel...when I'm not flying I'm usually in the office with my laptop tapped into their network and surfing the web...I'm very sick of the ODC. LOL.

[MarkE]

My buzz these days comes from the production side of things, experimenting and creating the sounds which come from the studio. It's the 'I flaming well did that!' syndrome when a marvellous piece of music leaves the studio monitors.....

Goosebump city.....!!

Im with Mr G...... I simply cant believe the charge I get out of producing music. Just when I think I've done everything there is to do, I find a new road with endless possibilities. Yes, quite enjoyable with a lot of satisfaction attached.

[RandallFlagg]

Well, not to get too much off topic, but I, too, have a concealed carry permit here in Kansas with reciprocity in Colorado.

Why did I do such a thing? Simple. Kansas was one of the last states that I'm aware of that FINALLY allowed permits - and this was only after beating a veto from that nut Govenor of ours....so I figured that "What the hell"! And went and took the necessary classes and got myself "legal".

I have only carried once since getting the permit (1 January) simply because I wanted to "try it out" and I must admit, it felt weird.....but safe....unfortunately, here in Kansas they passed a proviso that states, basically, that ANY busines that displays a "No Weapons" sign can prosecute you for carrying....so, you guessed it...most businesses have just such a sign...of course, they never say how many "bad guys" are prosecuted for ignoring their laws when they rob the joints....go figure...

Lastly, I got the permit because I figure that a lot of folks fought very hard to get that thing passed and if honest, law-abiding folks like me don't take advantage of the right...we lose it forever....

Sorry about the soapbox rant.....

[SilverHamer]

Here's one for ya...MarkE do you think you could get your fingers to play a 12-string bass? I don't think I could do it, but then I've never tried either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/LarryC/Hawk%20Studio%20Forum/Hamer_Chaparral.jpg

I bet it's a major hit in the old wallet to re-string one of these babies!

[MarkE]

Wow...
Ive seen these but have never heard one. I'll bet it sounds amazing. Im sure that I could get used to it quickly but may have trouble reaching the lower strings on the upper frets (the short pinky thing).

Dayum....dont give me any ideas :)